We asked one of our therapists to stay at the
Rio Retreat Center Bunkhouse on opening night, and write up a report of her experience.
Here are the things she told us she enjoyed the most:
The Desert Wildlife
I arrived while it was still daylight and found my room. The first
thing I noticed was the stillness of the campus on that Sunday evening.
It was so peaceful. I dropped my bags off in my room and headed for the
main lodge.
I sat in the La Mirada room in the main lodge and enjoyed the views
from the large windows that look out on the campus. I just took a few
breaths as I took in the beauty of the scenery. The beautiful green
grass, the large tree (the biggest tree I have seen in Arizona so far),
the flowering bushes, and the fountain were all being explored by
hummingbirds, butterflies, and some other birds which I could not
identify (one was a beautiful little bright yellow bird).
It was hard to be anything but relaxed while noticing all the beauty
of the desert. Being a lover of little creatures, I decided to walk
outside to see what other ones I could find. There were so many little
lizards running around on the ground by the plants, my eyes could barely
keep up with all of them. I heard an owl hooting in a tree very close
by but as much as I tried, I could not see it. The most beautiful thing I
saw was an ocotillo plant with about five to seven hummingbirds feeding
off of it. I have never seen so many hummingbirds at one time!
The Peace and Quiet
Later that evening, before going into my room for the night, I
decided to sit outside for a little bit to wind down and further enjoy
the all the desert has to offer. With the absence of city lights, the
stars were truly spectacular! I could see some lights from the town off
in the distance and I could see a few cars traveling on a road but I
could only faintly hear the sound of cars. What I could hear were the
songs of the crickets and the running water of the fountains on the
grounds. I took some deep breaths and I could smell the sweet fragrance
of desert flowers. I moved closer to one fountain after I thought I saw
something move out of the corner of my eye. I got closer and noticed
about four frogs leaping in and around the water, playing with one
another and just seeming to enjoy the night.
The Comforts
I made my way to my room and laid on the bed for the first time, I
loved the cushy white comforter! I was very pleased to see that I had my
own thermostat to control the temperature of my room. I made it a
little warmer so that I could take a warm shower before bed. The water
pressure was outstanding, it was enough to give me a little back massage
to relax me even more. I decided to turn the room temperature down so
that I could enjoy the warmth of that plush comforter and I left the fan
on so that it would drown out any noise that I might hear from other
rooms as I drifted off to sleep.
Upon waking the next morning, I noticed that I did not hear any noise
coming from the other rooms while I had the fan running. I enjoyed
another massaging shower and went to explore the desert morning before
heading to breakfast.
The Great Beginnings
I had missed the sunset the night before and did not want to miss the
sunrise. The sunrise was amazing, with the colors of the desert just
lighting up with the gold sunlight of the morning sun. It was slightly
chilly outside and the air just smelled and felt so brisk and fresh. I
sat outside for a while, breathing in the morning air and listening to
the sounds of nature waking up. The horses must have been waking up
about the same time as me because could hear them for the first time
since arriving. I sat there long enough to watch as they came out onto
the field. Two of them were noticeably friendly with one another. I
watched them for a short time before heading inside to start my day. I
was greeted by a fantastic breakfast and felt ready to start a week of
work and healing, cocooned in by the safety of nature and nourished by
the abundance my surroundings.
Book Your Stay Today
When you register for one of our
intensive workshops, you can also book your stay at the new Rio Retreat Bunkhouse.
The added benefits of staying at the Bunkhouse include free
transportation to and from the Phoenix Sky Harbor airport and extra time
spent in on campus in our peaceful, beautiful, and wholly-therapeutic
environment. And, if you register for a workshop between now and June
30, you’ll receive a 25 percent discount on workshop registration fees.
(Discount does not apply to Bunkhouse room rates.) Rooms are available
on a first come, first served basis, so we recommend that you book your
stay well in advance. Call 800-244-4949.
Source Link :
Four Reasons to Stay at the Rio Retreat Center Bunkhouse
